HD-DVD officially dead (finally!)

[SignOfZeta]

I would always want to buy a movie like Blade Runner, Grand Prix, Nausicaa, etc, but I've been using Netflix for years and I fucking *love* it.

[PCEngineHell]

I myself buy movies I really like. I rarely make  a leap and buy something I have not seen unless enough people I trust judgement wise have told me its good enough to own,not just a rental.
I am in full support of supporting movie companies and giving them money for good releases. if they entertained me then they earned my cash.

I dont care what format its on,LD,DVD,if I want it and its  a good release of it to the best audio/visual quality the format can offer,Ill buy it.
I wasnt sold on Blu Ray or HD-DVD,but did want the HD Dvd format to survive just because Sony has had  a poor track record with producing LD and Blu Ray disc them selves.

 If other (reliable) companies start to manufacture them I will step into that format slowly,just like any other I have messed with.

 I dont plan on replacing any of my dvds I own with newer versions though,even if better picture is present,unless there are many extra features present and better packaging/presentation.

For me Im still very pleased with the visual quality/audio LD provided,and most DVDs I own that are re-releases,ect....

[Kitsunexus]

I know what I like, so I just buy it. I've only sold some DVDs once, and it wasn't worth it, so now I buy to keep.

[PCEngineHell]

I know what I like, so I just buy it. I've only sold some DVDs once, and it wasn't worth it, so now I buy to keep.

Bop Bop Peranu says HD is dead,buy more DVDs.

[Kitsunexus]

...huh? o_0

[Joe Redifer]

HD isn't dead.  I think 30% of US consumers have HDTVs now.  It's just beginning!  Not sure what a Bop Bop Peranu is (Keranu's cousin, maybe?) but he is wrong.

[PCEngineHell]

Just pokin fun with Zombie Bop Bop Peranu. Yea,High Def media itself is just starting to take off well,but rather forced.
Really the market wasn't ready for it. I think part of it was just because we took so long to make composite based signal items phased out,esp VHS. Because they continued to support VHS so strongly half way through DVDs life alot of people out there were pretty late adapters to DVD,and now are going to have slightly disgruntled feelings. People were just getting used to S-video and Component on SDTV,and now they are going to be irked as they are expected as consumers to jump into the next big thing. I expect that even though HDTV will be the standard due to the FCC,ect,the majority of the nation will stick to SDTV sets well into 2012 until their Tvs die natural deaths.

[SignOfZeta]

Bop Bop Peranu says HD is dead,buy more DVDs.

What the hell? Did Validus hijack PCEngineHell's account or something? Actually, for either one of them this is a pretty dumb-ass post.

[OldRover]

I got into DVDs very late myself; didn't even buy anything capable of playing DVDs until I got my PS2. That was just a few years ago. I'm certainly not switching to HD anytime soon.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Yea,High Def media itself is just starting to take off well,but rather forced.
Really the market wasn't ready for it. I think part of it was just because we took so long to make composite based signal items phased out,esp VHS. Because they continued to support VHS so strongly half way through DVDs life alot of people out there were pretty late adapters to DVD,and now are going to have slightly disgruntled feelings.

The gubmint mandated digital broadcasts, not high-def. broadcasts; if the market wasn't ready for it, then people would still be buying the same old stuff.  For the average consumer, it doesn't make sense to pay good money for a 250lb 35" CRT, when they can get a sleek and sexy LCD for just a bit more.  Besides, three out of four homes have cable or satellite service, so the changeover doesn't really effect them one bit, yet they're still buying fancy new LCDs (which are high-def simply because it doesn't substantially increase the manufacturing cost).

[PCEngineHell]

For all the sexy sleek HD LCDs out there,I don't know a single person who owns one except for a few people on gaming forums,not in person. Yea,they are selling alot,but not widely taking over everywhere yet,regardless of all the hype in the media. For that matter,when I do go for  a HD set up,Ill be sticking to something CRT based. I don't like LCD displays. I never have. They currently are not as durable,and I don't see them being anymore so in 2-3 years.

I got into DVDs very late myself; didn't even buy anything capable of playing DVDs until I got my PS2. That was just a few years ago. I'm certainly not switching to HD anytime soon.

Same here. I didn't start buying dvds until around 2004-2005. Im going to keep buying movies on that format for quite a bit longer before I go to anything else.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

For all the sexy sleek HD LCDs out there,I don't know a single person who owns one except for a few people on gaming forums,not in person. Yea,they are selling alot,but not widely taking over everywhere yet,regardless of all the hype in the media.

If you don't think that LCDs are taking over, then explain why they're the only thing available in the 32"-50" range that isn't complete junk (I'm lumping Plasmas in with LCDs, since the average consumer doesn't care).  People haven't swapped every set in the house for a LCD, but when it comes time to replace a set, the majority of people are buying LCDs unless it's a little 19" set in the kitchen or the kids' room.

For that matter,when I do go for  a HD set up,Ill be sticking to something CRT based. I don't like LCD displays. I never have. They currently are not as durable,and I don't see them being anymore so in 2-3 years.

I don't blame you, but that means that you'll either be buying low-end crap, a used set, or a pricey front projection unit.  Nobody has made a quality HD direct view set in years, which makes me sad that I didn't pick up a Sony KD34XBR960 when local stores closed 'em out for $750.

[nectarsis]

^ What do ya mean..Sony still has the Wega CRT hi-defs??

[Keranu]

I agree with Michael, I would stay away from LCD and Plasma myself I were to buy an HDTV. However there is a new type of TV being made called laser TV, which you can tell is awesome already by the name, which I think would fix all of our TV problems. Unfortunately it hasn't been released yet and it hasn't been really picking up yet.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

^ What do ya mean..Sony still has the Wega CRT hi-defs??

No, they don't.  The aforementioned XBR960 was the last Superfinepitch tube, and that was a 2005 model.  It was replaced in 2006 by the XBR970, but those sets used the lesser quality tubes found in previous non-XBR models.  Either way, they've been gone for quite a while.

On a side note, I see that Sony has abandoned the rear projection market.  The 37" model would've interested me based on size, but it didn't have the best picture quality and wasn't very reliable.  The larger models look quite nice, but I'd rather go front projection if I'm going to spend that much coin.

I agree with Michael, I would stay away from LCD and Plasma myself I were to buy an HDTV. However there is a new type of TV being made called laser TV, which you can tell is awesome already by the name, which I think would fix all of our TV problems. Unfortunately it hasn't been released yet and it hasn't been really picking up yet.

Meh.  That's just a modified DLP rear projection - I doubt that it'll perform much better than a LED based DLP set.  If you want play the waiting game, wait for SED displays.

[SignOfZeta]

My friend bought in hugh jazz Sony CRT in 2004 or so. Its so stupidly heavy that moving it should require unionized skilled trades people and a UN resolution, and it won't go all the way to 1080p, but the truth is I really like it. Even with warped edges (never seen a Sony without them) is nice because HDDVDs look great on it, and more importantly PC Engine, Famicom, SNES, etc look *really* good on it.

I can't remember the last time I saw something like that in a store though.

[Joe Redifer]

I have the Sony XBR960.  It's OK.  It's pretty small (only 34 inches) and only ouputs 1080i or 480p (it can accept 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i inputs, though).  The geometry is fucked in the corners.  I don't like that.  Different resolutions have different problems.  So if you try to fix one problem in the service menu, it fucks up the other resolutions in some way.  I'd much rather have a 1080p projector.  I'm not on the market for one now, but hopefully someday soon.

[nat]

Even with warped edges (never seen a Sony without them) is nice because HDDVDs look great on it, and more importantly PC Engine, Famicom, SNES, etc look *really* good on it.

I have a flat screen 29" JVC SDTV CRT that sounds a lot like that (minus all the HD stuff). Classic game systems look SO GOOD on it, even in composite. It has the best composite picture I've ever seen, almost as crisp as S-Video on the same set. The colors are so vibrant. You never hear anything about JVC sets, good or bad. I can't say enough good things about this one, though.

[SignOfZeta]

The better sets from the 90s had killer comb filters in them because they were trying to make laserdiscs look good. This carries over to stuff like PCE, and SFC as well. Now this sort of thing isn't really a concern since all new sources have at least component. Its sad, really.

[Kitsunexus]

The better sets from the 90s had killer comb filters in them because they were trying to make laserdiscs look good. This carries over to stuff like PCE, and SFC as well. Now this sort of thing isn't really a concern since all new sources have at least component. Its sad, really.

My HDTV has a 3D colorcomb filter in it. 0_0

[nat]

So does mine. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's on or off-- it doesn't appear to do anything, ever.

[Joe Redifer]

3D comb filters only work with 3D movies (glasses required).

When I was shopping for an SDTV for my old-skool game systems, I wanted a TV with all types of connectors, including component.  What I found was that a lot of new TVs had RF, composite and component.  No s-video!  That pissed me off.  I was finally able to find a nice 20" Toshiba with all four connections.  It kicked the hell out of the Sony I tried in component picture quality (which also lacked s-video).  This TV looks 20 times better with SD game systems via component than the Sony 34XBR960 could ever possibly hope to.

[Kitsunexus]

So does mine. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's on or off-- it doesn't appear to do anything, ever.

How do you turn it on??? o_0

[Nazi NecroPhile]

How do you turn it on??? o_0

Buy it flowers, take it out to dinner and a show, talk dirty to it, etc. - you know, all the regular ways.  Failing that, check the setup menus.

[nat]

Yeah, my LCD HDTV has an "Advanced Video Settings" menu where I can toggle 18 different kinds of visual "Noise Reduction" in addition to the "3D Comb Filter," "Blue Screen," and change the "Color Temperature."

[Joe Redifer]

Always leave that noise reduction shit off.

[nat]

Always leave that noise reduction shit off.

Agreed. There is even one of them.. "Spatial" or "Temporal" or something that seems to make the video out of sync with the audio. It's horrible. And none of them actually make the image look better. The "Speckle" reducer, which I guess is supposed to reduce film grain, makes edges fuzzy like they're moving all the time.

I turned all that shit off quickly after getting the TV.

[Ceti Alpha]

Always leave that noise reduction shit off.

Agreed. There is even one of them.. "Spatial" or "Temporal" or something that seems to make the video out of sync with the audio. It's horrible. And none of them actually make the image look better. The "Speckle" reducer, which I guess is supposed to reduce film grain, makes edges fuzzy like they're moving all the time.

I turned all that shit off quickly after getting the TV.

It's amazing how that crap never works, and in fact, makes things even worse. Even "voice enhancement" features on cordless phones suck.

[Kitsunexus]

Well there is no colorcomb filter setting in my TV's menu, but the noise reduction works GREAT! Also I found out to leave the color temperature on normal, it looks shit otherwise.

Also, why the fuck have a "FREEZE" button if the thing is NOT A TIVO??? o_0

[nectarsis]

^ To study the nipples on porn actresses of course

[quoth09]

Always leave that noise reduction shit off.

Actually on my 36" Sony Wega that I had, depending on what I was doing, I would turn the DNR on it to high or middle for some games or movies, and it would make them look better. That TV was nice. Now I'm wishing I had just kept it.  I had all the settings to my liking and had 2 main modes I used: one vibrant mode for games and so on, and one calibrated mode set pretty close to NTSC J for movies. Turbo games looked great on it, as did PS2 and other systems, with no need for adjustments. It was just too damn heavy though. I don't find lifting 250lbs with another person, 'fun times'. I could always grab a 27" model of the same TV, but honestly I have my eye on another one that I test modeled before the unit I have now (the one I actually wanted), and I can get it for the same price or cheaper after shipping and with warranty, than people are selling the 27" of my old one used.

[Keranu]

Hey quoth, would this happen to be the same TV you had? My brother is picking it up this Sunday .

[SNKNostalgia]

The comb filter really does help on my Sony 27". It is from 2003-04 or so. When using composite say with a NES, it does wonders by trapping in the color bleeding and enhancing the resolution almost to S-video. Works great for my digital cable also using composite. This TV also has S-video which almost looks as good as component, especially with my Sega Saturn. Component looks next to perfect from what I see.

It depends on the model of the TV. I have no settings menu stuff for comb filter of DNR. It does have one for Vertical Edge Enhancement which just makes outlines thicker and makes text look like ass. I never use VEE or VM as the TV menus says. My parents have a slight different model of the same TV just about and has the same good results. I have used the service code and turned off the comb filter before and made it look worse. I hope this TV lasts another 15 years at least problem free.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

It was just too damn heavy though. I don't find lifting 250lbs with another person, 'fun times'.

Agreed, those Wegas can be a real bear.  The worst CRT that I ever moved was a 40" Mitsubishi; I don't know exactly what it weighed, but the dude had it in an alcove over his fireplace.  Fun times indeed, lifting one of those pigs up to shoulder height and holding it there while hooking everything up.

[PCEngineHell]

My tv in my bedroom I use for my gaming and movies is a Apex 24 inch monitor with 3 composite av in,1 s-video in,and one av out. Quoths seen my tv in action plenty. Gaming on it is tops.Both composite and s-video are very clear and vibrant. Not a tv Id get rid of easily. If it starts to have issues Ill get it repaired first.

[nat]

Those APEX TVs aren't too shabby. I have a smaller one, and the image is awesome. Still doesn't compete with the JVC though.

[PCEngineHell]

I dont know,Apex had alot of different models,some were cheaper then others yet had better quality circuitry and tubes and yield better results after calibration.

In general though I think any Apex set you got was great. I never heard any complaints. I know my bedroom one does have better picture quality then my mothers 20 inch Apex in her bedroom for sure.

Ive seen some excellent JVC sets and some not so hot ones,so the only good way to compare is to have the two sets running the same thing side by side and have both of them calibrated and see which is better.

As of late I have been hard pressed to find any better tv on the market I want then the one I already have. Ive been tv hunting with Quoth plenty,just not too impressed with everything out there.

[nat]

I dont know,Apex had alot of different models,some were cheaper then others yet had better quality circitury and tubes and yeiled better results after calibration.

In general though I think any Apex set you got was great. I never heard any complaints. I know my bedroom one does have better picture quality then my mothers 20 inch Apex in her bedroom for sure.

I think the small one I have is the 20". Mine has a pretty good picture though, definitely what I would consider "above average."

Ive seen some excellent JVC sets and some not so hot ones,so there only good way to compare is to have the two sets running the same thing side by side and have both of them calibrated and see which is better.

I agree. I have a JVC from 1991 and a flatscreen JVC from the very late 90's. The late 90's set has possibly one of the best pictures I've ever seen on a CRT, while the 1991 set is pretty mediocre.

[Joe Redifer]

APEX does not make their own TVs.  I have a 13-inch APEX with component and the tube is made by Sansui, I believe.  The image is really good.  My Toshiba which also has component is made by Sansui as well.  The picture quality is even better than the APEX, but you can see the similarities.  It totally blows away Nat's JVC (I have spied on him while he used it).

[PCEngineHell]

Apex sourced the tubes and dvd players from all sorts of companies,a couple of which were owned by the Chinese government. Because of that deal going bad with Sichuan Changhong Electric Appliance the VP and Pres of Apex became wanted men in China,one for sure got arrested there. Not sure if they are still holding him.

[Ceti Alpha]

Apex sourced the tubes and dvd players from all sorts of companies,a couple of which were owned by the Chinese government. Because of that deal going bad with Sichuan Changhong Electric Appliance the VP and Pres of Apex became wanted men in China,one for sure got arrested there. Not sure if they are still holding him.

The wild west of capitalism.

[quoth09]

Hey quoth, would this happen to be the same TV you had? My brother is picking it up this Sunday .

Bah, the link has been deleted. The WEGA I had was one from 2000. It had the speakers on the bottom rather than the side, and it was before SRS was put on the units. It was 36", no PIP. I don't remember the model # off hand anymore.

Either way, it was a nice unit. If it is the same one, he should be happy. Actually any WEGA and he should be happy, lol.
Take a photo and send it to me when you get it, and I will tell you if it the same one or not. You should seriously get the operator code for it when you get the chance,that way you can adjust all the variables that are not in the normal menus. The unit I had, had a black remote with some of the buttons green.

Also another nice thing that it supported, was anamorphic mode for wide screen movies, let you flip back and forth from 4:3 to 16:9, which isn't on that many SD units.

[quoth09]

My tv in my bedroom I use for my gaming and movies is a Apex 24 inch monitor with 3 composite av in,1 s-video in,and one av out. Quoths seen my tv in action plenty. Gaming on it is tops.Both composite and s-video are very clear and vibrant. Not a tv Id get rid of easily. If it starts to have issues Ill get it repaired first.

The only complaint I have about your TV is the fact that it doesn't have component on it. Otherwise, it's better than what I have now. Hopefully that will change soon...otherwise I will attempt to reclaim my glory and get another WEGA. I will just pick up a 27" this time if I do that though.

Either way, I'm either going to sell the one I have now, or it's going to become a permanent vertical monitor for my arcade boards...I haven't decided yet. A 27" Vertical is tempting...